just went throught HDD 101

[kof2000]

" Capacity
The old rule for determining how much drive space is requires is to "estimate how much you think you will need, double it and round-up to the nearest drive size". With dropping drive prices as well as decreasing price deltas (i.e., going from a 120GB to 160GB drive is usually $10 -- why? Because a 120GB drive is just a 160GB drive with a half-a-platter disabled)."

so does that mean you can technically open up the drive and enable the half?

 

[Trizoy]

No, do not open the drive. It will then be useless. Unless you another half a platter laying around, I know I don't.

 

[jesbax]

if you open the drive up you will kill it. hdds have zero tolorce for dust. besides they leave one plater head off.

 

[Praetor]

if you open the drive up you will kill it. hdds have zero tolorce for dust. besides they leave one plater head off.

Bah you can open the drives if yer uber careful (people replace the drive lids with clear ones all the time ... you might even be able to hack from another hdd some platters with heads (but that for sure is some risky stuff)